Labyrinth City - Labyrinth (4)
The things the Guild Master wanted to buy from me were much the same as what the lord of the port town had sought.
He gave top priority to leather, bones, blood, teeth, and horns used in crafting armor, and only purchased meat or oil when the budget still had a little room left.
Meat was delicious to eat, of course, and oil was excellent for forging armor or weapons. In armor refining there was a process called tanning, and in weapon refining a process called quenching was essential, was it not? Tanning meant working oil into the leather; quenching meant slowly cooling metal heated to high temperatures to make it tougher. The techniques differed, yet both shared the common use of oil.
Just as people said beef tasted best when grilled in its own fat, equipment made from Serpent Dragon spoils would surely turn out finest when finished with Serpent Dragon oil. As someone with no expertise, I had no idea what the real difference was. Still, the Guild Master looked purely delighted.
"So this is the Serpent Dragon's hide! Magnificent, just as I expected!"
"Master, the blood should be more than enough to produce high-grade magic scrolls as well."
The woman who had introduced herself as the Vice Master smiled too.
"Is that so! Then prioritize recovery magic scrolls and escape scrolls!"
"Yes! I'll see to it at once!"
She saluted the Guild Master and dashed outside. Earlier, when she had come in almost protesting that they would be late if they did not start work immediately, she had looked a little frantic.
Blood was used as a catalyst—generally for crafting magic scrolls that were normally difficult to use in succession. Since anyone with mana could activate them, they were extremely popular. I had heard they were used to create King Class recovery magic and Emperor Class escape magic.
"This is truly wonderful...! We can raise our combat strength by at least forty percent! It's all thanks to you, Hero Esilly!"
The Guild Master spread the Serpent Dragon hide out like a child who had just received a gift, beaming with joy. There was not the slightest greed in his eyes. He was not buying for personal profit; his heart was filled with the simple wish that the expedition members would return safely without injury.
"I merely sold you some goods."
"Hahaha! Goods like these are impossible to obtain even if you search for them!"
He laughed heartily and clapped my back twice with solid force. It stung a little, yet seeing his smile drew a wry smile from me in return. If he thought of it that way, I was grateful.
I drew another hide from my Inventory and held it out to him. He tilted his head at the slightly different piece, but since I was the one offering it he did not particularly doubt me and began spreading it out to examine it.
I wonder if he'll recognize it? If he can tell what it is, I might even praise him for being a true Adventurer Guild Master.
"This is... the same Serpent Dragon hide, yet far sturdier... A different part of the body, perhaps?"
"Hehe. Try to guess. If you get it right, I'll give you five of these free of charge."
"A-Are you serious?! Hmmmm...."
The Guild Master's expression, which until a moment ago had simply been wondering what the hide was, transformed completely. He stared at it with wide eyes, determined to guess correctly and claim those five sheets. If he had ever looked at me with that face, I might have wet myself on the spot.
For the record, I intended to give them to him whether he guessed right or wrong. I planned to have the Guild Master's own armor made from that hide. Why? When we descended underground with the expedition, he would go down with us as well. Rather than waiting on the surface, he meant to embody the true leader who walked the same path. If he went below without proper armor and was injured or killed, how could I ever face Erna and Enge?
"Hsss.... Perhaps... the hide from the Serpent Dragon's shoulder region?"
His eyes narrowed a fraction, as though he could not be completely certain. It seemed he had simply decided to go for it—if correct, wonderful; if wrong, so be it.
What I had realized while dismantling the Serpent Dragon this time was that a dragon's shoulder area was extraordinarily hard. Even I would never have managed it without packing a wind spell full of mana.
"As expected of the Guild Master. That's the correct answer."
Clap, clap, clap. I applauded him, then drew four more sheets from my Inventory and held them out. But... why was the Guild Master acting like this? He stood utterly motionless, as though struck by a petrification spell.
"Guild Master? Erna's father?"
"S-Sorry. I was so happy that for a moment my mind went completely blank..."
"Use that hide to make your own armor. For the rest, work a little of it into the others' armor as well."
"Ah.... Understood! When Hero Esilly speaks, of course I will listen!"
Mmm. If he did just that, I would be satisfied. Just to be sure I cautioned him once more, collected the payment, left the reception room, and stepped out of the Adventurer Guild entirely.
And then the dark sky... no, the dark ceiling. Being an underground city, there was no sky to see, yet earlier it had been bright and now it was completely dark. Even so, looking at the lively streets made me feel as though I had wandered into a night market, and my mood lifted. It was neither hot nor stuffy—cool and far more pleasant.
"Ah! Have you finished all your business?"
While I was thinking that, the woman standing beside me approached. I had been looking straight ahead and had not noticed, but now I saw it was Lumine.
"You startled me. Were you waiting here? You should have gone to the inn."
"We haven't even decided on an inn yet, have we?"
"Ah.... That's right.... The whole reason we came to the Adventurer Guild in the first place was to get a recommendation for lodging."
I intended to rent the best possible rooms for a long stay. It looked as though we would be remaining here for quite a while. Buying a house might not be a bad idea either—though I doubted any place with a large yard existed down here.
"Then shall we secure a room and go out together? Grab some meat or something."
"I'm happy with anything, as long as I'm with you, Esilly-nim."
"Hehe. Fallen for me?"
It had already been twenty years since I began living as a woman rather than a man, yet strangely there still seemed to be quite a few women who developed subtle feelings toward me. I myself was aware that I was a woman now, yet I still preferred women far more than men. Even when I had transferred water into Lumine's mouth with my own, a strange heat had bloomed in my lower belly.
"Th-That's not it..."
Yes, that had been my reaction. But I never imagined Lumine would blush and hang her head in pure embarrassment. Could it be... that Lumine also... Nah... no way?
I took the embarrassed Lumine's hand and wandered here and there through the city. The night market I had half-hoped for was actually open, so we bought and ate whatever caught our fancy while strolling for well over two hours. I considered drinking as well, but Lumine said we should bathe first and then drink together, so I held back. Besides, I looked far too young; no street vendor would have sold me alcohol anyway.
We settled dinner with meat and bread, then finished dessert with candy and jelly when we found those for sale. I had expected a labyrinth city to be stifling, yet it felt far livelier and more entertaining than any royal capital. When fatigue finally began to weigh heavily on us, we headed for the inn we had reserved in advance.
Two silver coins a night—hardly expensive when I considered the funds I currently held. One gold coin for five days. With twenty-five hundred gold coins on hand... a simple calculation said I could stay for thirty-four years. No need to worry about rent.
"So comfortable!"
The moment I entered the room I flung myself onto the enormous bed. It was far too large for one person; it practically demanded at least two sleepers. Soft and fluffy, it was filled with the scent of sunlight. Had they dried the bedding in the morning sun? As expected, expensive inns kept hygiene perfect as well.
"Scent of the sun..."
"They probably dried it with a magic tool."
My roommate, however, denied the romance of it. A magic tool—why so little imagination? Did such tools even exist? When I murmured the thought aloud, Lumine answered with a wry smile.
"This is an underground city to begin with. Would drying bedding in actual sunlight even be possible?"
"Ah...."
Thinking about it, she was right. I often failed to notice such simple, obvious facts. Embarrassing... In moments like this, the best plan was simply to go take a bath.
"Lumine. Want to bathe now?"
"N-Now? Together?!"
Just like earlier... Lumine kept getting flustered over the strangest things. Anyone could see her gaze flick to my chest and lower body before drifting toward my lips...
Could it be... that Lumine still remembered me transferring water into her mouth? If so, it would not be strange for her to be conscious of it.
"Why the sudden reaction? We're both girls, so what's the problem?"
"Ah... It's nothing! Let's go right away!"
Lumine packed the beauty products and shampoo we had bought at the market into a basket. It was not a perfect bathing kit, yet it held everything basically necessary. And then... she took my hand. Her face was even redder than before.
Strange... I think I should try touching her here and there inside the bath, just to see how she reacts. If she does not dislike it... then I will simply devour her.
It had already been a full week since I began spending time in the Free Port City.
Even after the incident in which the Serpent Dragon had nearly attacked the ship, vessels bound for the West Continent still had not arrived. Would I truly have to wait more than three weeks like this? If I delayed any longer, tracking Esilly's trail would grow steadily more difficult.
As the wait dragged on, a strange fear began to take root. What if Esilly's heart had hardened completely, and she decided my apology meant nothing at all? I could accept her refusing to forgive me—but the thought of her treating it as utterly unimportant terrified me. I would rather she rage at me and strike me; that would be less frightening.
Perhaps that was why I had been having nightmares almost every night lately. Waking after flailing at empty air had become routine. I was growing more and more frayed. At this rate I even doubted whether I would be able to apologize to Esilly with a clear mind.
"Haa.... None today either, as expected..."
Out of faint hope I stopped by the harbor and checked the tickets, yet there were still no ships heading to the West Continent. Perhaps because of that, the number of people boarding vessels for the North Continent seemed to have increased. Why the North Continent? As far as I knew, no ships sailed from there to the West Continent. There was a method of crossing on tiny little boats, but I understood it took a considerable amount of time—roughly the same as waiting three weeks here and then sailing another week to the West Continent.
Should I ask once...? At worst it would cost me nothing.
"Excuse me. Do you happen to know why people are heading to the North Continent?"
"The North Continent, sir? Most likely to cross from there to the West Continent."
"I was under the impression there were no ships from the North Continent to the West Continent."
"That used to be true. The Central Continent has always served as the hub, after all."
So there were ships now? For reference, the Free Port City—situated at the edge of the Central Continent—had been able to flourish for precisely that reason. Rather than sailing to every nation for trade, gathering in one place to exchange goods was far faster and more stable. When merchants traveled to individual countries, it was common for cargo to be unloaded only for payment never to arrive. Even if one tried to sue, that nation's authorities almost always sided with their own citizens. The Free Port City was different. Independent laws ensured fair handling, which made it advantageous. In short, the Free Port City lived less on trade itself and more on credit.
"I've checked—there is a ship departing the North Continent for the West Continent in fifteen days."
"Do you know how long the voyage takes?"
"One week to reach the West Continent, they say."
"Three weeks, then..."
Far shorter than sailing directly from the Central Continent to the West Continent. The drawback was having to board a second ship, which raised monetary concerns. No—travel from the Central Continent to the North Continent took only a week. There would still be a week before the West Continent departure, so if I worked as an adventurer during that time I might gather enough funds...
"Rather than waiting here for a West Continent ship, Sir Knight, why not travel to the North Continent and board a vessel for the West Continent from there?"
"Hmm..."
Yes. Decision made. Rather than wait blindly for three weeks here, I would go a little earlier and think things through.
"One ticket to the North Continent, please."
"Which class shall I prepare?"
"A-class."
A week of adventurer work in the Free Port City had already netted me a fair sum. For now I would head to the North Continent and cross from there to the West Continent.